4 replies to this topic

[haganation]

I'll freely admit that I was happy with this hand... and the image it gave me during a tourny I played in yesterday. But part of me says I could have won it had I hit the gas sooner.20 person two table home game NL tourny, 4 spots pay, $80 buy-in. T5000 to start. level two (50/100), nobody out, I have a middling stack of T4700. Table is soft, save for a somewhat aggressive player two to my right and a shark directly to my left (I know, sweet!).Dealt two red ladies on the button. Folds to the somewhat aggressive player, who limps (huh?). Folds to me. I raise to T450. Blinds fold. Dude quick calls.Flop is Qc 10s 4c. Nutsy. But laden with draws. Dude checks. Pot has T1050 in it. I bet T600. Dude deliberates, self-negotiates, and calls. Turn is Ks. he checks. I bet T1500. He calls. With a board of Qc 10s 4c Ks and two queens in my hand I felt... vulnerable as hell. River is 5h. He checks. I, to the astonishment of myself, check.He sighs, and says, almost sheepishly, "I got the nuts." And flips the AcJh. Flopped a gutbuster with an overcard (or so he thought) and a backdoor flush draw. I nod dejectedly, but make sure to flip my queens right on top of the queen on the board. i invested T2550 and was left with T2100. On a set. And didn't bet it on the river. I walked away from the table semi-steaming but smiling on the inside for exhibiting discipline and trusting a read (two things I certainly have a problem with).The guy looks at me, and wonders how I'm still in the tournament. Have you ever seen a shortstack take total control of a table? Well I did it, because I was getting dealt monster hands and had an image as good as any I have ever had live. Cruised the final table with T22000, knocking out four people (including two on one hand). Ended up finishing third, a little over $275 (dissappointing to say the least- AK suited needs to win heads up against A3 off). My question is, could I have bet him off the pot on the flop? Maybe the full pot and T1000. Just wondering how some would have played this with this disclaimer-- in my career, I go broke with that hand almost every time.

[Vade]

Yeah, I'd bet more on the flop. His limp is setting off all sorts of alarm bells. In all honesty, I would put him on a big pair with that action.

[Monshroud]

haganation said:

My question is, could I have bet him off the pot on the flop? Maybe the full pot and T1000. Just wondering how some would have played this with this disclaimer-- in my career, I go broke with that hand almost every time.

Well, what was his stack size compared to yours?Personally I think a stronger bet on the flop may have helped. That way he has to really consider paying for his draw. Maybe he would have layed it down. He probably put you on a big pair, with the bet you made on the flop, I think he had the implied odds to make his call on the flop. (Not sure of the #'s on this)Kudos to you for checking on the river though. One thing I have been learning is to ask myself: What is he/she calling with? Is he/she trapping me. I know this is not very popular, but from my POV, I would rather not risk it all with someone calling me consistantly. You stated that he was a shark so I would think that he wasn't some calling station, and he probably had some sort of hand to be staying in there with you.Monshroud

[haganation]

he had about T7000, I think, and had me covered. His passive play was what made me put on the brakes. he messed up, though, however, because while the check on the river makes sense (in retrospect), i could not have gotten away from the hand had he bet out.

[Scott3705]

bet closer to the pot size. Atleast bet something over 2/3 of the pot in the realm of 700-800. It's not that much larger than your bet, but psychology it can be.